In recent meetings with IEU WA Members, IEU WA Assistant Secretary Kathryn Barnes and Assistant Federal Secretary Christine Cooper explained that the Gonski recommendations had positively recognised the diverse needs of Catholic and Independent Schools and provided a positive framework for the future funding of schools, in particular for special needs students.
Throughout the IEU school funding campaign, IEU members across the country visited MPs, wrote submissions to the review panel and letters to the editor, calling for:
The development of a resource standard to meed the educational needs of all students.
The indexation of such a resource standard to the actual rising costs of education
The full funding of special needs students, regardless of their place of enrolment.
A reasonable transition period for schools to adjust to any new model.
The recommendations from the Gonski report has acknowledged that these are the issues which must be addressed.
There is still much to work through but if successful, the proposed recommendations will provide a fairer and more consistent school funding model which provides resources to all schools.
Members are now actively calling upon the Federal and State Governments to commit to the extra funds necessary to deliver the Gonski recommendations.
For more information and to have your say at www.schoolfunding.gov.au.
Members at Lumen Christi
